Connection for pump plungers and the like



' March 15, 1932.

ca. R. LIVERGOOD. 3,849,101

CONNECTION FOR PUMP PLUNGERS AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 2, 1926 Patented Mar. 15', 1932 UNITED STATES GERALD a. uvnaeoonon Houston,- TnxAs V CONNECTION r03. PUMP rnunenns nunrnn LIKE",

Application filed August 2, 1926. Serial N0.'126,463. I v

5 ployed'in-oil well operations and is not con fined entirely to the use herein set forth.

It is'an object of the invention to provide anautomatic coupling means between the sucker rod and the pump plunger which'is convenient to operate and accurately adjustable upon'the pump plunger without a material amount of manipulation. It is a further object'to provide clampingjaws to engage the plunger which are connected'together integrally and which have means to align'the jaws axially in the housing. I

Referring to the drawings herewith, Fig. 1 illustrates a side view partly in elevation and partly in central vertical section of a gripping device embodying the invention and showing it attached to the plunger. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the gripping socket detached. Fig. 3'is a side elevation of the pump plunger als of reference are employed to designate like parts in all the views.

The pump plunger ordinarily employed in packed pumps fits within the packing of the barrel and it is desirable to place the plunger in position in the pump barrel before the barrel is introduced into the well. This avoids the necessity of forcing the pump plunger downwardly through the tubing from the surface and thus tending to scratch and mutilate the surface of the plunger while it is going down.

When this is done, however, it becomes necessary to have an'automatic coupling at the lower end of the sucker rod to engage the upper end of the plunger and the plunger must be formed with, a shank to be gripped by the coupling. I f

In Fig. l I have illustrated a coupling 1 which is understood as having a threaded socket indicated at 2 to be screwed on the upper end of the pump plunger. Said couplinghas its sides flattened at 3 for engagement by a wrench. The upper end of the shank; and Fig. 4 is a transverse sec-- tion 011 the plane 4.--4 of Fig. 2. Like numer- I coupling has a shank 4 of reduced diameter,

said shank being" gradually increased diameter toward the upper'end so'that' it'may be more securely held by the gripping means. Below thefshank there is a downwardly flaring surface 5'to engage with the lower end' of the grippingdevice.v Y. The gripping device comprises a barrel 6 of suitable length the upper end ofiwhich ."isthreaded at 'Z for engagement withasolid coupling member 8, 'which' has an upper threadedshank? to form aconnection with the next adjacent rod section. i

The lower end of. he coupling member is reduced in internal diameter at 10' to "proif?ENTIOF EE videa' downwardly tapered seat for. the grip-- ping j awsp'The lower end of the-barrel is formed with a flaring mouth 11'to contact with the upper beveled face 5 of the plunger attachment. i

The lower end of thecoupling 8 has a" threaded recess 12 to receive a bolt or pin 18* which is adjustable therein.

Said pin extends downwardlyalong the axis of the bar rel 6 andhas a head 14: at its lower end.

The tapered jaws or slips 15 which fit within the-seat'10are formed on arms 16 extending downwardly from an upper'collar 17.

Said collar 17 has a central opening to receive the pin 13 and a spring 18 around said pin bears at its upper end against the coupling 8 and its lower end against the collar 17 of p the jaws.

When this device is operated the plunger having the coupling member 1 thereon is i 1 placed in the pump barrel'before the barrel is set into the well. The sucker rod having the gripping device thereon is then lowered into the tubing until its lower bell-shaped mouth 11 telescopes over the shank& of the. if plunger attachment. The jaws 15 will be thereby pushed upwardly in the barrel Guntil the jaws can receive thesaid shank and then the spring 18 will force the jaws down- I wardly over the shank 4, and into the tapered seat 10. The 'downwardlytapered form of the shank adapts it to be firmly gripped by the said jaws. The pump plunger may thereafter be operated until the plunger. has

to be later withdrawn for repairs. 7 p i When the plunger is at the surface, it may be disengaged from the plunger gripping device by first unscrewing the coupling 8 from the barrel 6. This allows the jaws 15 to be drawn away from the shank 4 of the plunger attachment.

By making the jaws all integral with the collar 17 they are kept in assembled condition and by mounting them to be guided axially of the barrel by the pin 13, I am not w only enabled to keep them accurately seated, but am enabled to easily withdraw them when necessary without unnecessary handling. The formation of the slips and their means of mounting are both valuable features of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

' In a connection of the character described including an attachment having an upward- 20 1y extending shank, the combination of a gripping device comprising a barrel having an inner downwardly tapered seat, a pin aX- ially of said barrel, a collar on said pin, jaws on said collar adapted to fit said scat, re-

.silient means to hold said collar and jaws downwardly, and a head on said pin limiting the downward movement of said collar there- In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 28th day of July, A. D. 1926.

GERALD R. LIVERGOOD.. 

